Automatic signal switch



Dec. 19, 1933. R l, A RUNGg 1,940,465

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL SWITCH Filed Feb. 1, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l LI l/IIII/11111111111111III/I111 Paullzfiiun c A TTORNEY.

Dec. 19, 1933. P. I. A. RUNGE AUTOMATIC SIGNAL SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Feb. 1, 1930 INVENTOR. PauZIflJF'aN e.

A TTORNE Y.

circuits. 1

Patented Dec. 19, 1933 .UNIITEDJQYISQTATES PATENT-o FlcEfl 1,940,465AUTOMATIC SIGNAL swrron Paul A. 'Runge, San Francisco, Califl;Application Februaryl, 1930. Serial No. 425,224 1 Claim. (o1. '200-11This invention' relates to automatic signal switches and moreparticularly to signal switches for operating stop and turning signalsusing electric lamps as the signal mediums 7 An object of the inventionis to provide a push button switch in which the right or left turningsignalcan be set and held by pushing a button and then be automaticallyturned off for resetting after a predetermined time.

Another object is to provide a "switch mechanism for controlling all theoperations, mounted in a casing within reach of the driver of avehicle.-

- Another object is toprovide a switch that will display a stop signalwhen the brakes are applied, this stop signal to have a flashing efiectby means of a make and break thermostat switch in the main switchcasing.

" Another object is the construction of a switch casing having thereinapivoted spring controlled switch member, operated by a slidable member,the ends of which project from each side of the casing, andelectro-magnetic control means for the slidable member having athermostat cutout in circuit with the magnets.

Other, objects and advantages will appear as thedescription progresses.p .7

In the specification and accompanying drawings, the invention isdisclosed in its preferred form, but it is to be understood that it isnot limited to this form, because it may be embodied in other forms. Itis also understood that in and by the claimiollowing the description itis desired tocover the invention in whatsoever form it may be embodied.

V Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the casing showing the insulating boardand parts of the mechanism mounted on that side.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the reverse .40 side of the board,and the mechanism thereon;

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing'the electrical The casing is made preferablyof metal and is indicated by the numeral 1. The board 2 of insulatingmaterial is fixed in this casing. Fixed to the. insulating board is ametal plate 3, and

on the plate is pivoted the metal switch member 4 on the pin 5. Theswitch member is held in a central position by means of a spring 6connected to short arms 7-7 on each side and pivoted to the plate 3 bypins 8- -8. The upper portions of the arms bear on the switch member "21when thrown one way and-terminals In the accompanying'two sheets ofdrawings:"

in the motor vehicle by the wire 45.

at the points 9 and The spring pulls the arms up against the stops 11and 12 to hold the I switch -'member in the central position. The

side blade 13 and 0 switch member has a narrow a wider side blade 14. i

In the central position the narrow blade makes contact with theterminalmember 15,"and the wide blade contacts the terminal members 16 and 17.The, switch member also has the central blade 18'which contacts theterminals 20 and I 22 and 23 when throw in the other direction. On theother side of the insulation boardis mounted a slidable bar 24=which hascylindrical button members 25 and 26 fixed thereto, in this instance bythe fiat portions -2'7--2'7 andscrews 28. The. buttons 25 and 26 slidethrough openings in the casingwhich act" as bearings therefor. Theb'ar24 is of non-magnetic material, and has the soft-iron armature 29loosely mounted on its upperside by means of pins 30 and 31 projectingthrough holes inthe bar. Above the armature are mounted theelectro-magnets 32--32 by means of the bracket 33 and screws 34-34 whichhold it to the board. The poles 3535 are rounded to fit three spacedopenings 36, 36, 36" in the armature, two at a time. Depending from thebar 24 is the arm 37 which hasa slotted opening 38 to receive a pin 39which is fixed to the ventional construction is indicated at 41 and isconnected-in theelectro-magnetic circuit to com- 1 plete, or cut offsaid-magnetic cimuitby means 90 of the wires 42 and 43. .Anotherthermostat 44 known as afiasher, or

make and break type, is provided and mounted on the insulating board.The letter B indicates a battery terminal and is connected to a batteryterminal of the battery is connected to the ground by the wire 46. Q i Ii Onthe insulation board there is a fiat conductor 47 leading from theterminal B to a horizontal flat conductor 48 which is connected toterminals 21 and 22 on the other side of the board.

the board. A wire 50 connects this conductor 7 to the thermostat 41 andthere is a conductor 51 leading from one thermostat to the other toconnect the fine wire heating coils 52 and. 53- on the thermostats tothe circuit.

The terminal 52 is connected to'the conven- The other tional brakeswitch 56 which is connected to the battery terminal B. This switch ismounted on the brake pedal of the vehicle in the usual manner. A wire 57leads to the thermostat 44,

and the thermostat is connected to terminal 15 by the wire 58. Theterminal 53 is connected to the ground by the conductor 59 and to wire51 by the wire 60. The terminal 54 is connected to an electric lamp 61in the signal casing 62 by the wire 63 and the terminal 54 is connectedto the terminal 16 by the wire 64. The terminal is connected to the lamp65 by the wire 66 and to terminal 17 by the wire 67.

The signal shown to operate with this switch is adapted to indicate astop signal when both lamps are illuminated, and to show a right turnwhen one of the lamps is illuminated, and a left turn when the otherlamp is illuminated. Other types of signals could be used in connectionwith the switch above described, and this signal in itself is anincidental part of my invention. One terminal of each lamp is groundedon the signal casing, and the casing is connected to the ground by thewire 68. The signal casing is secured to the steering post 69 by theclamps 70"l0 under the wheel 71. l

In operation, when the switch member is in the central position, and thebrake pedal is depressed, it closes the-circuit so that current flowsfrom the battery over conductors 47; 48, contact terminal 19, whichisconnected to conductor 48,

to arm 18, to terminals 16, 17 to both'lamps to flash a'stop signal. Thecurrent will also flow through the thermostat heating coil 53, to wires51, 60, terminal 53 and wire 59 to ground, causing the thermostat tomake and break the circuit and flash both lamps. This will continue aslong as the foot is on the pedal.

When a right turn signal is desired, the push button 26 is pushed in,throwing the switch member 4 by means of the pin 39 so that the arm 18joins the terminals 23 and 22. The terminal 22 is connected to theconductor 48, which being connected to the battery, energizes theconductor 49, and from this conductor the current flows to thethermostat 41, to the magnets 32-32, back to line 51, 60 and to theground. This pulls up the armature 29 which engages the ends of thepoles 35 in the openings in the armature to hold the switch memberengaged against the spring 6 until the thermostat breaks the circuit,when the armature drops back, and the spring 6 pulls the switch memberto the central position again. But before the switch is released, thelamp 65 is illuminated to indicate a right turn through terminal 17,wires 67 and 66. The terminal 16 being out of contact, the other lamp isnot illuminated, Terminal 15 is also out of contact, which cuts out theflasher 44.

To indicate a left turn the push button 25 is pushed inward, whichthrows the arm 18 to electrically join the terminals 20 and 21. Theterminal 16 is the only one in contact with the switch member;consequently only the lamp 61 is illuminated to indicate a left turn.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed and desired tosecure by Letters Patent A signal switch for vehicles comprising an anclosing casing; a dielectric panel in said casing; a switch platepivoted on said panel and having a wide side blade, a narrow side blade,and a central blade; a pair of terminals on said panel opposite saidnarrow side blade and adapted to be engaged by said wide side blade whenthe switch plate is in central position; a third single terminal on saidpanel and adapted to be engaged by said narrow side blade; two pairs ofcontacts arranged on opposite sides of said central blade; means to movesaid switch plate in opposite directions to completely disengage fromsaid single terminal, to disengage from one or the other of said pair ofterminals, depending on the direction of the movement of the switch, andto engage one or the other of the two pairs of contacts.

PAUL I. A. RUNGE. I

